Back to Temasek, Back to the Orchestra, Back to my Gaohu...

First Alumni CO practice!! Haha, I'm just pretty thankful that most of the songs we're playing are old, familiar songs. But still, I've got 3 new pieces to learn.

Travelling to Temasek secondary this morning just brings back so many memories - of being squashed in the bus, of all the familiar scenery flashing by the windows, of alighting at that same old stop. I strode into the school via the side gate (oh, the few times I went running by that gate to find my class just in time for morning assembly) and then signed in at the security desk. I walked on, past the gazebo (all the times spent studying and laughing there with my friends) and then the fountain, across those stone slabs and up the stairway towards the Artroom (it's sad really, that CO doesn't have their own room, but oh well).

Then I met up with some of my section mates. And quite a few of the alumni members were already inside. Caught up on old times a little. Then the scores were distributed and everyone started hunting for their old instruments that they once used. I found my old gaohu, but it sounded like it was having a flu, even after I changed both the strings (they were rusty man!). So I dug around the cupboard for another gaohu and found a relatively new one. I don't think anyone's using it. So muahaha, it's mine for the next few months till the day of the concert in March.

So we had sectionals first, lazing around a bit, experimenting with some of the new scores, trying to recall the old pieces like Chang Cheng and Xing Kong. Man I love these two songs. Haha. Then somehow, everyone started to gather in the plucked-strings section classroom and a mini orchestra was formed. And then they all started playing Yu Diao. Haha, that's a new song for me, so I just sat there, listened and look at my scores. By noon, Ke Chen came over and he conducted Chang Cheng! And, gosh, although we don't sound all that awesome yet (first practice afterall), but it felt absolutely wonderful to be playing in an orchestra again. And I love Chang Cheng. Hahahahaha. I went a bit siao and played so hard that the stupid bow cut into my finger and hand again. I really ought to tape up the thing. But it's okay, no blisters yet. Just the usual red, raw and painful feel. The feel of playing my gaohu enthusiastically. Haha. Then we ran through Xing Kong... and Feng Nian Ji. And yep, that's about it for practice today.

I'm really tired now, so I'll be going off to bed soon. Good night!